‘When you contribute, you share your heartfelt condolences’

Amina Elsheikh, left, troop leader of the only local Muslim Girl Scouts troop, works with her scouts in forming a peace sign outside the Islamic Center of the Capital District in Colonie. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Here is the Faces of Faith interview (Times Union, April 27, 2013) with Amina Elsheikh,

a local Muslim woman who is the leader of the first and only Muslim Girl Scouts troop in the Capital Region.

She shares with readers that she converted to Islam at age 18, her views on raising strong girls, and how the Boston Marathon bombings prompted her to lead the Girl Scouts into having a fundraiser to benefit victims of the horrific event.

A nurse at a local hospital, Elsheikh is the mother of four children, three of whom are girls in the Girl Scouts troop. She is teaching them that they have nothing in common with extremists and to embrace the difference and find the love in their hearts as Muslims and as Girls Scouts.

The fundraiser launch generated some local media coverage on Channel 13 and on YNN.